The concepts of “communality” and “publicity” are important sociological issues. However, the latter has not been adequately addressed by Japanese sociologists. There are many aspects of publicity that need to be examined. Firstly, a transformation in the perception of the “public” should be discussed, followed by its conceptual diversity, inter-penetration of the “public” and “private, ” the social impact of “globalization” and the requirement of “natural rights” and so on. Secondly, the rebirth of public philosophy is required. This has been proposed, in particular, by Robert Bellah, who has stressed the crisis of individualism and civil society caused by extreme individualism. Thirdly, the reconstruction of the “public sphere, ” as proposed by Jurgen Habermas, has become a global issue. The revitalization and rebirth of civil society under an enlarged state and mass media is required. Public policy is the fourth area. Particularly within the context of post-war Japan, “publicness” has become a controversial word, and in many cases it functions as a symbol of oppression against protesting citizens. Large-scale “public projects” have often caused severe local conflicts and environmental damage. We require normative standards to socially judge the effects of public policy. Finally, we need to discuss the role of the “third sector”; non-profit and nongovernment sector. Collaboration among NPOs, citizen's groups, government and private corporations can bring about a transformation toward a more transparent and accountable public policy.